Game



May 26, 1931. J, H, SHEARS 1,807,074

GAME

Filed March 19. 1928' I N VEN TOR. J71M5 H SHEA R5 an mull A TTORNE Y.

Patented I May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mama sums, or oxmnomCITY, OKLAHOMA GAME Application filed March 19, 1928. Serial No.262,910.

This invention relates to games, and more particularly to a game of thecharacter of that illustrated in Patent N 0. 1,531,420, issued to me onMarch 31st, 1925. i

g The apparatus-constituting the subject matter of the aforesaid patentis in the nature of ten-pins. That is to say, it comprises a group often-pins supported in the triangular formation common to bowling or duckpins. These pins are made in two parts, the

upper parts being held stationary in a frame, and the lower parts beinghin ed with respect to the upper parts, and eing swung upon their hingesby the impact of the ball thereagainst. The movement. of the ball may beunder the influence of a cue, as in playing pool, or the ball may berolled by hand, as in'bowling. The pins of the patent aforesaid carrycontact making elements, so that a-contact ma be made to complete anelectric circuit w ien the pin is portion is moved upon formation as thepins, together with electricv connections, through which the lights willbe illuminated when the pins are struck, the arrangement being such thatwhen the head pin, for example, is struck, the head light on the displayboard will be illuminated. That is to say, the connections are such thatif the num ber 10 pin is struck, the number 10 light will be lighted.Thus the player will be apprised of the exact position of the pins thathave been struck, and of the pins that remain standing, and is therebybetter able to gauge his succeeding shots. r

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view through the table of the gameapparatus, with the 'pins and light supporting board in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the pins, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticview, illustrating one form of wiring that may be employed.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of thedrawings.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates the bed of the t2 ble of theapparatus, along which the balls are rolled. A fixed frame 6 supportsthe pins in triangular formation above the table, with their lower endsfree of the table. The upper portions? of the pins are 5 fixed and thelower portions 8 of the pins are hinged to the upper portions at 9.Contact straps 10 are carried by insulating bars 10 and are contacted bysprings 11 when the lower portion of the pin is struck and thrownupwardly. The springs act to hold the lower portion of the pin in eitherof its limits of movement, since it acts upon opposite sides of thehinge 9 at said limits of movement.

By referring to the diagrammatic 3',

it will be seen thatthe connections are such that when any individualpin is struck, and

its contact members are brought together, a

circuit is completed to cause the illumination of the co respondinglight. For example, when the head or number 1 pin, designated number 1,is struck, a circuit is completed from a battery or other source of E.M. F. 13, through conductor 14, head pin 1, conductor 15, head light 1and conductor 16, back to the battery. If number 3 pin is struck,'acircuit is completed from battery 13, through conductor 14,connection117, pin 3, conducto1v18, light 3, connection 19, andconductor 16, back to the battery. Since the other connections are thesame as those described, no further description is deemed necessary.O'ne-of the conductors for each pin leads from its strap 10, the circuitbeing completed through spring 11, and body of the pinto bracket 7 andthence to the other conductor.

The arrangement shown and described is of utility and value in that itenables the player to ascertain, at a glance, the'relative positions ofthe pins remaining to be struck, and this,

in turn, enables him to gauge his succeeding shots to better advantage.

Furthermore, the novelty of the apparatus appeals to the player,increases his enjoyment of the game, and. correspondingly in- 5 creasesthe revenue of the proprietor of the apparatus.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction set whatever changes fairl come within either the terms orthe spirit the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: 1. A device of thecharacter described, com

prising a group of two-part pins transversely I of the alley and abovethe level of the pins arranged in the usual triangular relation commonto the game of bowling a bed or alley at 10 one end of which said groupof pins is located, the-upper portions of said pins being fixed, and thelower portions of said pins being hinged with respect to the upperportions, a group of lights arranged in a substantially vertical planein juxtaposition to the pins, and corresponding in triangular formationto the formation of the ins, and electrical connections between the pmsand the lights of a nature to cause the illumination of the lights whenthe lower portions of the pins are moved to circuit closing position bythe contact of a ball therewith, the connections being so arranged thateach pin is connected to that light to which it corresponds, in thetriangular disposition of the pins and lights.

2. A game apparatus comprising a bed or runway along which balls may berolled, in combination with a group of pins supported at one end of therunway out of contact with the runway, contact making elements carriedby the several pins arranged to complete an electric circuit withrespect to such of the pins as are struck by the balls rolled along therunway, a light supporting board at the rear end of the runway extendingtransversely thereof, a group of lights arranged in triangular formation and in correspondence with the formation of the pins, andelectrical connections between the several lights and the several 4pins, so arranged that when a 'ven pin, in

the pin formation, is struck by a all, the corresponding light, in thelight formation, will be illuminated, said lights being supported by 5the board materially above the level of the 4 pins.

t In testimony whereof he afixes his signaure.

